Completing a PhD demands relentless perseverance, deep critical thinking, and the grit to navigate countless experimental trial and errors. It requires pushing the boundaries of human knowledge through original research, transforming raw curiosity into scientific discovery. Congratulations to Dr. James Blyth on his work with Kagome metals and Dr. Tofajjol Bhuiyan for his research on MBT heterostructures! A well-deserved achievement!
Our new Unisoku USM1300S STM is a state-of-the-art platform for probing the quantum world at the atomic scale. Operating in ultra-high vacuum at temperatures down to 350 mK and equipped with a three-dimensional vector magnetic field of up to 9 T, it enables unprecedented studies of magnetic topological insulators, superconductors, and other exotic quantum materials. Integrated with a molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) growth chamber, we can synthesise high-quality two-dimensional and ultrathin materials before directly transferring them under ultra-high vacuum for atomic-scale characterisation, without ever exposing them to air. This fully integrated growth and characterisation platform will accelerate the discovery of new quantum materials and unlock exciting new quantum phenomena.
As part of the undergraduate research program at Monash University’s School of Physics and Astronomy, Echo Skipworth conducted research analysing X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) data from ANSTO’s PREVAC system. Echo authored an outstanding project report and delivered an oral presentation of the findings to over 40 department academics and peers.